Draft-gear.



v. WILLOUGHBY.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION PIILBD 51111.27, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, g.

` INVENTOR Llf,

www. f

. v l l l l' l ATTORNEV 'ET-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Riton-tod Een. 23, Zitti applicati@ aiedsprn 2??, i912. sez-iai no. ceases.

scription, such as will enable others skilled.-

in' the art to which it appertains to make and to use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred`l form of the invention, though itjis to'beA understood that the inT vention is not'linxited to the exact details oi construction' shown and described, as it is obvious that :various modifications thereof will occur to persons skilled-in the'jart.

' In said drawings: ljligure l represents plan view of a draft gear constructed in accordance' with this invention partially broken avay taken on the line lf-1 of Fig. 2, look ing in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 2 represents a rear View of the draft gear partially in section taken on the line or" Fig. l, looking in the directionv oi the' arrow.

Fig. 3 represents 'a side View of the draft gear partially in section-taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. This invention relates to shock absorbing means for drawbar draft rigging for car couplers, and comprehends in its adaptation suitable means for (compressing and distorting the vdraft springs and the utilization of friction between the operative parts. 4

It also comprehends in its adaptation the employment of a rear follower container for the coinliensating or shock absorbing elements, so arranged that all of the shocks shall be absorbed internally ofthe device.

Referring to the drawings illustrating this invention, the accepted construction of yoke 4 is employed, and is provided with the usual shoulders 5 and bolt holes 6 for securing the drawhar, which is not shown inthe drawings, and the said yoke is adapted to embrace the passive elements of the draft rigging, which consist of a front follower plate 7 and a container rear follower 8 that is provided with inclined side walls 8a and with reinforcing or stiening Webs 8b, and

forms a part of a pocket for the draft' springs 9 and 9a. The front follower plate 1sl provided with a projection 7? forming a front beanig for the draft springs, and is also provided with a shoulder 7b.

Y The compensating or shock absorbing elements of the draft rigging comprise a' pair or wedges 10 shaped to conform to a portion of the draft springs, and comprising with the container rear follower the draft spring pocket. These wedges, as their name implies, are provided with inclined outer surfaces conforming relatively to the inner inclined surfaces 8a of the container rear fol lower, and the basesof the wedges. are pro- `vided with projecting shoulders l0;1 abutting and overlapping the 'shoulders 7b of the front follower projection. While these shoulders abut and overlap, a sullicient play is permitted to provide for a sliding plav of the u-'edges as they travel on the inclined wall 8a' of the container rear follower 5. The device vis adapted to be empioyed in M. C. B. construction, and, therefore, the draft sills and front and rear follower stops are shown in dotted lines. i

The operation of this device is very simple, as -t'or example, a boiling shock is to be compensated, lthe forward active elenient,

the drawbar base being in direct abutment with the passive element, the. front follower' 7, the front follower is forced backward. until it abuts the shoulders! l0a of the wedges l0; in the nl. fantinie the projection 7a oi the front follower 7 has compressed the d aft springs '9 and 9a, and the wedges l0 moving backward on thelinclined sur faces ,8a of thecontainer rear follower 8 gradually consti-ict the spring pocket, dif

tor-ting or twisting the draft springs into an irregularor unnatural shape, thereby utiizing the compression of the springs and the distortion oit' the springs in addition to the friction caused by' the backward wedging .motion of the wedges upon the inclined sur-- faces of the container rear follower and lquickly, yet gradually, compensating the builing shock. The tension or pulling lshoclr is compensated by the action. loi the yoke i upon. the container? rear fol ower moving the saine forward and thereby compressing the draft springs against the front follower projection until the shoulders l0"v of the wedges abut or'strilre the fronty follower, and the operation oit compensating this shock is analogous to the action of the parts under butl'ing shock. t wili, therefore, be perceived while the active element, the drawbar andyolre change under diierent shocks, the passive elements, the troni; and

Cil

rear followers andthe compensating and shock absorbing elements, the wedges and springs, remain inthe same relative operative relationship to each other and operate the same, eliminating the jar consequent from vibration of the springs from activity y follower and draft ring distortion elements normally space from the front follower and operated longitudinally and laterally by the front follower and within the container rear follower, said spring distortion elements being subsequently engaged by said front follower' to limit the relative movement between the latter and said friction elements in one direction.

2. lin a draft gear, a draw bar and yoke, front and rear followers, draft springs embraced by the said yoke, and friction elements normally spaced from the front follower and embraced by the rear follower adapted to distort said draft springs and to subsequently engage said front follower to havetheir forward movement arrested under draft strain.

3. In a draft gear, a draw bar, a yoke and draft springs, a front follower, a container rear follower provided with tapered inner side walls, a pair of friction wedges operi atively connected with said front follower, partly embracing one of said springs and operating within the container rear fol.- lower against the tapered inner walls there of and adapted to move together radially of the draft springs and thereby distort the latter, said springs engaging the rear follower and means rigid with the front. follower. l

4. In a'draft gear, a pair of co-acting springs one within the other, a front follower and a-container rear follower engaging said springs, said front followerl having a portion adapted to be projected into said rear follower, longitudinally and laterally inattesa movable friction and spring distortion elem ments acting-within the container 'rear fol lower-and uponV the draft springs to distort the same said springs engaging both the front and rear followers.

5. ln a draft gear, a 1draw bar and yolre, a front follower' abutting tliedraw bar, a container rear follower abutting the yoke and nested springs engaging both the front and rear followers and friction elements within the container rear follower surrounding said springs and adapted to contract the draft spring cavity and distort said springs, said friction elements being rendered effective `in both directions by said front follower..

G. In a draft gear construction, a rear follower including forwardly projecting members forming a housing, said members each haring an inclined `inner wall, a front follower, a spring abutting both front and rear followers, a pair of oppositely disposed wedges, each having an inner face conforming to the conformation of and engaging a side of said spring and an outer inclined face engaging one of said inclined walls.

7. lin a draft gear, draft springs, a front follower, a container rear follower provided with tapered inside walls and with reinforcements on the outside thereof, a pair of wedges operating against the tapered inside walls of said container, the followers and said wedges forming within the rear follower a longitudinally and transversely contractible draft spring cavity within which the draft springs are adapted to be distorted by the contraction.

8. in a draft gear, a draw bar and a yoke, front and rear followers, a projection on the front follower, draft springs embraced by the said yoke, friction elements partially embracing the draft springs and projection and embraced by rthe rear follower `and adapted to distort vaid draft springs. 1

ln witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

N. M. CLisiinM,

C. B. BnEsoN.

titi 

